Dislodging Romelu Lukaku from the Everton FC team was a tall order for Nikica Jelavic – too tall in the end.

The Croatian striker left for pastures new last month in search of more first-team football to keep his World Cup prospects afloat.

Lukaku had proven immovable.

At 6ft 8in, Lacina Traore is no stranger to lofty challenges.

The tallest outfield player in Premier League history is determined to nail down a first team place during his loan spell for the remainder of the season.

There is rarely room for two strikers in the new-look Everton line-up, and according to Roberto Martinez the 23-year-old’s naked ambition should in return encourage the best from fellow loanee Lukaku.

“Lacina is a young man too and he’s got a fresh challenge,” says the Blues boss.

“After the Aston Villa game he was sat in the director’s box and his face was lit up. You could tell how important he wants to be for Everton. That’s vital.

“We all know Romelu will be influential when he gets back from injury. So to have the extra competition will be invaluable, especially when you see the games we have left.

“I’m excited at that healthy competition and we will benefit from it.”

Everton's Romelu Lukaku in action

Lukaku will not be fit to return to action for another few weeks, while Martinez must run the rule over January capture Traore first before deciding at what stage, if any, to pitch him into battle against Spurs tomorrow.

But if the Monaco striker is given the go-ahead to make his Everton debut, Martinez promises the fans are in for a treat.

“Lacina is a player I think every single Evertonian will be impressed by,” he says.

“He’s a powerful man who can lead the line and his movement is penetrating and decisive.

“For a man of his height his technical ability is very impressive too. He’s only 23 and his hunger and desire to play for us is incredible. He’s at the perfect club to settle into the English game, and he has the right psychological approach.

“When you have a loan player you need them to have a point to prove or high standards. This club is good at making players feel they’ve been here for many years.

“There are a combination of reasons why loans work here.

“Medically he has the green light to play so it’s assessing when the right time is for him to start settling into the tempo and physicality of the Premier League.”

There is increasing light at the end of the injury tunnel for the Blues this weekend, and just in time too by Martinez’s reckoning.

“It’s a real joy to have a full squad because the talent we have in the dressing room is quite overwhelming,” he says. “It’s a significant 14 weeks left now.

“Having two or three coming back in the same week has given us a real boost.

“It’s important for us. We’re going to a really demanding ground when we’ll have to perform well and then we have two games really close to each other with the FA Cup game so we need to be aware of that.

“I’ve never seen the league as tight as it is now. In the bottom 10 anyone could be involved in a relegation scrap and in the Champions League race the top six are all strong and competitive.

“Now is where the small margins will play a big part. Any team can take points off anyone.

“Every point is extra important and it’s an exciting point in the season.”

If Liverpool lose to Arsenal today and they in turn beat Tottenham, Everton could be back in fourth spot on Monday morning.

But Martinez maintains his focus is solely on his team’s own preparations, and results elsewhere will have little influence.

“We’re not looking elsewhere at Liverpool’s game,” he says.

“We need to focus on ourselves and we know the importance of every point.

“Our record away from home speaks for itself. The next two away games against Spurs and Chelsea are as tough as you’ll find, but we’re ready.

“We need to be as good as we can and not worry about elsewhere.”

A 0-0 draw with Spurs at Goodison earlier in the season came at the end of a fairly even contest – but while Everton have enjoyed high standards of consistency since, Spurs’ form sank before a changing of the guard.

“Spurs are one of the teams in form. Since the new manager has come in, they play with a real freedom,” says Martinez.

“I think they have got rid of that responsibility and tension of having a lot of money spent in the summer – I think it’s the opposite now.

“They have a very good group of players trying to enjoy their football. They come out in games expressing themselves.

He adds: “They are very free in their football with nothing to lose. They press high with good intensity and energy, they are good on the counter-attack and can do a bit of everything.

“We haven’t seen them at their best yet and we hope to stop them fulfilling that this weekend.”